LAPEER, MI -- David Ethridge will be remembered for the love of his family and his passion for wine.

Ethridge, a Lapeer man who founded and ran the Lapeer Wine Tasters Guild for more than 30 years, died June 10. He was 79.

Dean Rondy, owner, Oxford Wine & Spirits, knew Ethridge through the taster's guild as a wine-seller -- but as it was with many people, wine was the common bond that forged their friendship.

"Wonderful guy, in my opinion a pioneer of the wine industry up here, for sure," Rondy said. "He was more than that. ...
He was a mentor to me."

Ethridge was born in Canton, Ill., in 1933. He married JoAnn Lawhead in 1956 and immediately joined the U.S. Air Force, serving as an occupational therapist. He returned home to earn a master's degree in vocational rehabilitation and a Ph.D. in guidance and counseling. He worked for the Michigan Department of Mental Health and later became director of the Ionia State Hospital, retiring in 1992 when the facility closed.

With three degrees under his belt and a lifetime of experience, Ethridge continued his education -- this time focusing on food and wine, becoming an expert and judge.

"When he retired, I think that was his field of study. He really got into wine and food. He just enjoyed it. That’s what it takes when you really like something, you delve into it," said Joe Borello, who runs the Grand Rapids-based Tasters Guild International.

Borello said that Ethridge had gotten the Lapeer branch up to the sixth most active chapter of the guild in the country. If he was to look at per capita population, Borello said he's pretty sure it would have been the most active chapter.

"He really did a super job over there. At one point, he was chapter of the year," Borello said.
"I think it was his personality. He was very knowledgeable, very pleasant, very easy to talk to, unassuming. And yet he had a vast knowledge of food and wine."

It was a personality that drew not only local wine lovers to the guild, but people from all over the world.

Michael Cregar, a co-owner of Woodberry Wines, worked with Ethridge to bring wine makers from as far away as Italy, France and South America to hold tastings.

"Just to visit Lapeer, Michigan," Cregar said.
"I would tell other people in our company and they would look at me like, what? … And then they came to the events and they were like, 'Oh, now we get it.'"

Cregar remembered one visit in particular from James Sichel, a fourth-generation winemaker, and one of the most well known in France, with his wine selling for $200-$500 a bottle.

"It was an opportunity to meet one of the most famous wine makers," Cregar said. "It is kind of unique. Usually that kind of thing would be reserved for some high end restaurant in Birmingham, so that was pretty exceptional."

Ethridge was also active in many local charities and organizations, including the Lapeer Rotary Club, where he had been president. He was awarded the Lapeer Community Chamber of Commerce "Citizen of the Year Award" for his commitment to the community.

Ethridge is survived by his wife, JoAnn Ethridge, his three children and their spouses and four grandchildren.

Rondy said Ethridge should be remembered for "his love and passion for wine, even more his love and passion for his family. He was always talking about his grandchildren. ... He was definitely a family man."

The family will receive friends June 19 from 5-8 p.m. at the Muir Brothers Funeral Home in Lapeer, located at 1021 South Lapeer Road in Lapeer. The Memorial Service for Ethridge will be 11 a.m. June 20 at the funeral home.